Ariana & The Rose is a new pop act created by singer Ariana DiLorenzo. This Italian performer is poised to take the world by storm. Her song "In Your Bed" reached #5 on the UK pop chart.
She has dabbled in acting and fashion making her a well rounded singer/songwriter.
Windy City Times caught her act at Market Days and sat down for a chat before the concert.
Windy City Times: Hello, Ariana. You must be Italian with that last name?
Ariana Dilorenzo: I am Italian. I grew up in the suburbs of New York. I moved to the city when I was 13. I went to a performing arts high school. I started in musical theater. All I wanted to do was be on Broadway. I gave my parents all the reasons why it was an okay idea for me to move into the city at age 13. Somehow they believed my crazy story and I did that. I went to school there and still live there. I'm from Manhattan.
Windy City Times: What performing arts school was it?
Ariana Dilorenzo: It's Professional Performing Arts School; then I went to NYU for theater. I wrote music between all of that. When I was a sophomore in college I was really writing all the time. I fell in love with it and wanted to do it professionally.
Windy City Times: So the goal was Broadway?
Ariana Dilorenzo: I did off-Broadway and TV. I had an agent and worked all through high school and college. I was leaving class to audition. That is why I went to a performing school because I needed a school that would let me leave to audition. That is why my family let me move because I had a job. They were unbelievably supportive.
Windy City Times: What show did you do off-Broadway?
Ariana Dilorenzo: I did a show based on the American Girl dolls. When the store first opened, they had a big theater in the store. We sang on Good Morning America and Yankee Stadium.
When I was on TV I was on The Sopranos for, like, a second. I did some commercials also.
That is how things started and I fell in love with music through musical theater. Pop music grew out of that.
Windy City Times: How long have you been performing as a solo artist?
Ariana Dilorenzo: I really started as a writer. When I was 19 I went down to Nashville for the first time. I did some amazing co-writes. Right when I was doing that demo I was going into my first year of college. I really decided to be an artist then. I wrote for the rest of the year and finished school.
Windy City Times: You have an EP now. Are you moving into electronic music with it?
Ariana Dilorenzo: I actually knew from the very beginning that I wanted to have this hybrid sound with electronic and acoustic instruments. It takes you a second to figure out exactly what that is and sounds like. I think this EP was the first time I found out where I like to sit. There are so many versions of synth music.
I'm making new music now and that feels really good to know where you are going.
Windy City Times: The new music that you are making is in that same style?
Ariana Dilorenzo: Yes. I think it is more self assured because I had a starting point. On my first go I didn't know where my footing was but this time I had the EP as a way to walk into rooms with people to show them what I have done and like to do.
This has live drums and live bass. There is also analog synth and it's more visceral.
Windy City Times: Do you have a band when you perform live?
Ariana Dilorenzo: Yeah. When I started and put the whole thing together I knew I wanted a band. I knew I wanted it to be Ariana & The something, mainly because I didn't want to be called just Ariana.
Windy City Times: Now you have Ariana Grande to compete with.
Ariana Dilorenzo: So many people think I am her! They are so disappointed when they find out. Some people think Ariana Grande has taken on a band called The Rose. I think she's great.
I wanted a band for the live show. For me my favorite concerts are when there is a band. I like the energy of people playing off each other and really playing in front of people. I didn't want just backing tracks of me. That is where that came from. It has really evolved and grown. It is an integral part of the show now.
I have done a lot of club stuff and fortunate to do a lot of gay Prides. Sometimes I just do that by myself with remixes and tracks. That is fun to do too.
Windy City Times: How did you become connected with the gay community?
Ariana Dilorenzo: Really from a young age. How did I go away from it really [laughs]? The gay community has been so open to my music and so welcoming. For a new artist to have any group of people just interested in listening to you I think is so amazing. Performing at those events is the most fun way to do a show. Everyone is there to celebrate and a positive reason to begin with. To give people dance music and a reason to jump, clap and scream is the best way to go into doing a show.
Windy City Times: I read you have been compared to Fiona Apple.
Ariana Dilorenzo: Did someone compare me to Fiona Apple? I love Fiona but she is so upset all the time. "Criminal" is one of the sexiest and angriest songs ever. That whole era of music with Alanis Morissette, Natalie Merchant and Fiona Apple is why I love pop music.
Windy City Times: You just missed Lollapalooza. Did you hear who was there?
Ariana Dilorenzo: Lorde was there and Chvrches. I love them! We are sonically in synch with them.
Windy City Times: Betty Who was in town for Lollapalooza at a pool party I went to. I heard you like her.
Ariana Dilorenzo: I do. She played St. Louis' gay pride the day after me and I was so bummed because I literally was plotting on how to meet her.
Windy City Times: Would you like to combine fashion and music like her?
Ariana Dilorenzo: When we were launching the whole project my family is in fashion so it was something I was doing anyway. Being from New York I love fashion. We wanted to see if my music would resonate in that community. It took really well in England. The music registers dance-y without being dance music. It really lends itself to that atmosphere. It gets people moving without necessarily being in the club.
It has been great to collaborate with other people and designers. We are working on some stuff for Fashion Week this upcoming season. It is unbelievable to use your music for runway shows and see your stuff used.
My friend was on Fashion Star and we are going to do something coming up. Music and fashion are so connected to begin with that to use the creativity in a different way is just fun. Ultimately, it is fun for people watching as well.
Dilorenzo's fashion blog is at arianaandtherose.tumblr.com and visit arianatherose.com to musically follow this talented Italian on all platforms.
